Yieldable antirotational means and method for a bottle support

ABSTRACT

Improvements are disclosed in the bottling art in which a bottle saddle assembly is employed having a bottle saddle supported over a saddle base by a saddle post; said improvements comprising means for holding the saddle post on the saddle base comprising means supporting the saddle post for rotation about an axis, and yieldable means preventing rotation of the saddle post about said axis, said yieldable means applying a yieldable antirotational force on the saddle post which holds said saddle post upright but which yields to a superior rotative force which would otherwise break parts of said saddle assembly.

United States Patent nn 3,568,851

['72] Inventor Anthony R. Schafer [56] References Cited Mish- UNITED STATES PATENTS f 3 1968 2.129.032 9/1933 Rowe et a1. 85/50 gf ff r 9 2,369,865 2/1945 Spencer 85/62 3.155228 11/1964 Norwood.. v. 198/210 3335:? mines 3.191.486 6/1965 Gibbens 85/61 St. Clair Shore Mich. Primary Examiner-Marion Parsons, .lr.

Attorney-William L. Fisher ABSTRACT: Improvements are disclosed in the bottling art in [54] AND which a bottle saddle assembly is employed having a bottle saddle sup orted over a saddle base by a saddle post; said imcm 9 Dr 1 F P aw provements comprising means for holding the saddle post on [52] US. Cl 211/74, the saddle base comprising means supporting the saddle post 85/62, 85/50, 1 16/1 14, 198/210 for rotation about an axis. and yieldable means preventing [51] Int. Cl ..A47b 73/00 rotation of the saddle post about said axis, said yieldable Field of Search 21 1/74, 77; means applying a yieldable antirotational force on the saddle /61, 62, 50; 141/165, 369; 2l4/(lnquired); 198/209, 210; 285/1, 2, 3,4; 151/53,50,49; 248/312, 311,309; 116/114,(1nquired);287/137 post which holds said saddle post upright but which yields to a superior rotative force which would otherwise break parts of said saddle assembly.

PATENIEDIAR slam 3568.851

INVEN'lU/x.

H/S A TTORN- Y YIELDABLE ANTIROTATIONAL MEANS AND METHOD FOR A BOTTLE SUPPORT My invention relates to the bottling art.

The principal object of my invention is the provision of improvements in the bottling art in which a saddle assembly is employed having a bottle saddle supported over a saddle base by a saddle post. Said improvements prevent breakage of parts of said saddle assembly.

The foregoing object of my invention and the advantages thereof will become apparent during the course of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are, respectively, top plan and side elevational views of a bottle saddle assembly employed in the bottling art having improvements embodying my invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are, sr respectively, fragmentary views of the structure of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views like FIGS. 3 and 4 showing parts in a different condition;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views showing different conditions of a metal shear part embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, 10 designates said saddle assembly which includes a bottle saddle l2 supported over a saddle base 14 by a saddle post 16. Said saddle assembly 10 is carried for movement through bottle filling operations on a post 18 about the upper end of which said saddle assembly is clamped by integral structure, generally designated 20, beneath said saddle base 14. Said structure 20 is split, as at 22, to form clamping arms 24 and 26 and is slit, as at 28, to render the arm 24 moveable toward the arm 26. A bolt and nut compress the arm 24 toward the arm 26 and against the post 18. The saddle 12 holds a beverage bottle in an upright position in place on the saddle base 14 as the saddle assembly 10 is carried through bottle filling operations by the post 14. The bottle is inserted into said saddle 12 between the arms thereof which spread apart during insertion thereof and return to their normal positions after such insertion to grip the bottle. Said saddle I2 is made of plastic to impart the flexibility required in the arms thereof. The upper end of the saddle post 16 extends into the saddle 12 from beneath thereof and is fastened thereto by a fastener 29. The upper end of the saddle post 16 which fits in the saddle I2 and the lower end thereof which is held against the saddle base I4 are each square in cross section. The intermediate section of the post I6 between the ends thereof is triangular in cross section as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 to provide clearance for movement of other parts of the bottle filling machine.

In accordance with my invention the saddle post 16 is supported for rotation about a holding bolt 29 threaded in the saddle base 14 and a flat 30 is provided on the rear of the saddle base I4 in which a slot 32 is milled. A metal shear part 34 is operatively disposed in the slot 32. The metal shear part 34 has a rectangular center portion provided with an aperture 36 through which the holding bolt 29 extends and bent opposite sidewalls joined to said center portion along the full length thereof. The metal shear part 34 applies a yieldable antirotational force on the saddle post 16 which holds the same upright but which yields to a superior rotative force which would otherwise break parts of the bottle saddle assembly. The superior rotative force occurs sporadically from defects in the operation of the bottle filling machine and is produced from any number of causes which are applied to the bottle tending to upset it. The following are examples of causes of forces applied to the bottle tending to upset it during the filling operation: members which are foreign to the bottle filling machine becoming wedged in machine parts such as glass fragments from broken or exploded bottles; the bottles to be filled striking the carbon dioxide fill tube as said bottles are being elevated so that said fill tube enters a bottle; the star wheel which moves the bottles into the saddle assemblies being out of synchronization with the rotary movement of said saddle assemblies; broken machine parts which cause misalignment of the bottles such as broken saddles. Such forces applied to the bottle tending to upset it are transmitted as rotative forces tending to rotate the saddle post 16. Whenever such rotative forces applied to the saddle post 16 are superior to the anitrotational forces applied to the saddle post 16 by the metal shear part 34, opposite sidewalls thereof will shear at the same time along their bend lines as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 9. To facilitate shearing of such opposite sidewalls along their bend lines the thickness of the metal shear part 34 equals the depth of the slot 32. FIGS. 5 and 6 show how the opposite sidewalls of the metal shear part 34 shear from rotative movement of the saddle post 16 across the slot 32. The saddle post 16 can rotate in either direction depending upon the direction of the forces applied to the bottle. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 opposite comets of the saddle post 16 cut across opposite bend lines of the metal shear part 34 and sever opposite sidewalls thereof from the center portion thereof. Were it not for my invention forces applied to the bottle tending to upset it during the filling operation would cause breakage of parts of the saddle assembly. It has been my experience that the saddle base 14 would break and this is an expensive casting. There are many such saddle bases on a bottle filling machine and breakage of a number thereof on a single 8-hour shift is not uncommon. Most of these bottle filling machines are run two and three shifts each working day. The savings realized by my invention are considerable over a period of a short time of operation of such bottle filling machines.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by my invention improvements in the bottling art-in which the object hereinabove set forth together with many thoroughly practical advantages has been successfully achieved. While a preferred embodiment of my invention has been shown and described it is to be understood that variations and changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

I. In the bottling art. a bottle saddle assembly having a bottle saddle supported over a saddle base by a saddle post, means for holding the saddle post on the saddle base comprising means supporting the saddle post for rotation about an axis. and yieldable means preventing rotation of the saddle post about said axis. said yieldable means applying a yieldable antirotational force on the saddle post which holds said saddle post upright but which yields to a superior rotative force which would otherwise break parts of said saddle assembly.

2. Means as claimed in claim I in which said yieldable means is in the form of a metal shear part which has a bend and which is sheared along its bend line.

3. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which said saddle base has a slot and the bend of said metal shear part forms a sidewall and a center portion, said center portion disposed in and having a thickness equal to the depth of said slot.

4. Means as claimed in claim 3 in which said metal shear part is constructed with bent opposite sidewalls which are sheared at the same time along their bend lines.

5. Means as claimed in claim 4 in which said saddle post is supported for rotation about a holding bolt and said metal shear part is provided with an aperture in the center portion thereof through which said holding bolt extends.

6. In the bottling art in which a bottle saddle assembly is employed having a bottle saddle supported over a saddle base by a saddle post, means comprising a metal shear part holding said saddle post upright, said metal shear part having a bend and constructed to be sheared along its bend line upon application of a superior rotative force which would otherwise break parts of said saddle assembly.

7. Means as claimed in claim 6 in which said saddle base has a slot and the bend of said metal shear part forms a sidewall and a center portion, said center portion disposed in and having a thickness equal to the depth of said slot.

8. Means as claimed in claim 7 in which said metal shear part is constructed with bent opposite sidewalls which are sheared at the same time along their bend lines.

9. Means as claimed in claim 8 in which said saddle post is supported for rotation about a holding bolt and said metal shear part is provided with an aperture in the center portion thereof through which said holding bolt extends.

10. In the bottling art in which a bottle saddle assembly is employed having a bottle saddle supported over a saddle base by a saddle post, a metal shear part constructed to apply a yieldable antirotational force to said saddle post to hold it upright, said metal shear part having a bend and constructed to be sheared along its bend line upon application of a superior rotative force which would otherwise break parts of said saddie assembly.

11. The metal shear part of claim l having bent opposite sidewalls which are sheared at the same time along their bend lines.

12. The metal shear part of claim 11 having a center portion to which said sidewalls are joined, said center portion provided with an aperture through which a holding bolt may extend.

13. In the bottling art, a bottle saddle assembly having a bottle saddle supported over a saddle base by a saddle post, a method of holding the saddle post in place on the saddle base comprising supporting the saddle post for rotation about an axis and preventing rotation of the saddle post about said axis by applying a yieldable antirotational means on the saddle post which holds said saddle post upright but which yields to a superior rotative force which would otherwise break parts of said saddle assembly.

14. Method as claimed in claim 13 in which said yielding is accomplished by shearing a metal shear part, said metal shear part having a bend, said shearing being along the bend line of said metal shear part.

15. Method as claimed in claim 14 in which said shearing is accomplished by shearing opposite sidewalls of said metal shear part at the same time.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 568 8 51 Dated Marilh 9 1971 Anthon R. Schafer Inventofls) y It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 19, cancel "5r". Column 2, line 53,

"claim 1" should read claim 2 Signed and sealed this 20th day of July 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

EDWARD M. FLETCHER, JR Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents WM $59) uscoMM-Dc 50376-959 U 5 GOVEWNMFNI PRINTING (FICE [F69 0-366334 

1. In the bottling art, a bottle saddle assembly having a bottle saddle supported over a saddle base by a saddle post, means for holding the saddle post on the saddle base comprising means supporting the saddle post for rotation about an axis, and yieldable means preventing rotation of the saddle post about said axis, said yieldable means applying a yieldable antirotational force on the saddle post which holDs said saddle post upright but which yields to a superior rotative force which would otherwise break parts of said saddle assembly.
 2. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which said yieldable means is in the form of a metal shear part which has a bend and which is sheared along its bend line.
 3. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which said saddle base has a slot and the bend of said metal shear part forms a sidewall and a center portion, said center portion disposed in and having a thickness equal to the depth of said slot.
 4. Means as claimed in claim 3 in which said metal shear part is constructed with bent opposite sidewalls which are sheared at the same time along their bend lines.
 5. Means as claimed in claim 4 in which said saddle post is supported for rotation about a holding bolt and said metal shear part is provided with an aperture in the center portion thereof through which said holding bolt extends.
 6. In the bottling art in which a bottle saddle assembly is employed having a bottle saddle supported over a saddle base by a saddle post, means comprising a metal shear part holding said saddle post upright, said metal shear part having a bend and constructed to be sheared along its bend line upon application of a superior rotative force which would otherwise break parts of said saddle assembly.
 7. Means as claimed in claim 6 in which said saddle base has a slot and the bend of said metal shear part forms a sidewall and a center portion, said center portion disposed in and having a thickness equal to the depth of said slot.
 8. Means as claimed in claim 7 in which said metal shear part is constructed with bent opposite sidewalls which are sheared at the same time along their bend lines.
 9. Means as claimed in claim 8 in which said saddle post is supported for rotation about a holding bolt and said metal shear part is provided with an aperture in the center portion thereof through which said holding bolt extends.
 10. In the bottling art in which a bottle saddle assembly is employed having a bottle saddle supported over a saddle base by a saddle post, a metal shear part constructed to apply a yieldable antirotational force to said saddle post to hold it upright, said metal shear part having a bend and constructed to be sheared along its bend line upon application of a superior rotative force which would otherwise break parts of said saddle assembly.
 11. The metal shear part of claim 10 having bent opposite sidewalls which are sheared at the same time along their bend lines.
 12. The metal shear part of claim 11 having a center portion to which said sidewalls are joined, said center portion provided with an aperture through which a holding bolt may extend.
 13. In the bottling art, a bottle saddle assembly having a bottle saddle supported over a saddle base by a saddle post, a method of holding the saddle post in place on the saddle base comprising supporting the saddle post for rotation about an axis and preventing rotation of the saddle post about said axis by applying a yieldable antirotational means on the saddle post which holds said saddle post upright but which yields to a superior rotative force which would otherwise break parts of said saddle assembly.
 14. Method as claimed in claim 13 in which said yielding is accomplished by shearing a metal shear part, said metal shear part having a bend, said shearing being along the bend line of said metal shear part.
 15. Method as claimed in claim 14 in which said shearing is accomplished by shearing opposite sidewalls of said metal shear part at the same time. 